Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses

This line of the Normal Variation adds 4...d6 5.Nf3, the most natural developing move against the King's Indian setup. White plans Be2 and castling with a solid center, while Black castles and prepares ...e5, often with ...Na6 or ...Nbd7 support.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3
ECO
E90
Engine
+0.55 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
3,223 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Continue with Be2 and O-O, heading for the Classical system after ...O-O and ...e5.
  • The engine's h3 idea stops ...Ng4 and ...Bg4 before White decides where the bishop goes.
  • After ...e5, d5 locks the center; then g3 can slow Black's ...f5 break.
  • Bg5 is a sharp try against ...Na6 setups, pinning the knight on f6.

Black

  • Castle first; the engine's top line leads to ...e5 and ...Nh5 with ...f5.
  • ...Na6 supports ...e5 and keeps the c-pawn free to move to c6 or c5.
  • ...Nbd7 and ...e5 set up a solid center, with ...Qe7 guarding e5.
  • Watch for e5 pushes; ...d6 is there to stop that, so keep it supported.

Plans and pawn structure

After ...O-O and ...e5, White chooses between d5 to lock the center and dxe5 to open the d-file. In closed positions Black goes for ...Nh5 and ...f5 on the kingside, while White plays on the queenside with c5. With h3, White makes ...Ng4 impossible and can answer ...f5 with exf5. In open positions, the g7 bishop and pressure on d4 give Black good play.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.55: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.55 5...O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3
  2. +0.64 5...Na6 6.h3 O-O 7.Bg5 e5 8.d5
  3. +0.69 5...Nbd7 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 O-O 8.O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

3,223 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.9%.

under 120045.7%
1200–159947.5%
1600–199951.1%
2000 and up45.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Orthodox Variation5...O-O · 3,232 games
  • Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Kozul Gambit5...O-O · rare

How to play against it

As Black, castle and prepare ...e5 quickly; ...Na6 or ...Nbd7 are good supports. Do not let White push e5 for free. As White, finish Be2 and O-O, or use h3 to limit Black's knight, before choosing to close the center.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses?

The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. Its ECO code is E90.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.55 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 3,223 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.9%. A main crossroads for both sides, ideal for players who want standard King's Indian structures rather than sharp sidelines.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses?

White develops naturally with Nf3, aiming for Be2 and castling. Black castles and plays ...e5 next, choosing between locked-center kingside play and open play against d4.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with Na6 and Nbd7 close behind. Castling first keeps Black flexible, then ...e5 follows, often with ...Nh5 and ...f5 after d5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.